A human rights lawyer and counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has described the assault on a female corps member in Oba, Idemili South LGA of Anambra State, Miss Jennifer Elohor, as a national shame and a definition of excessive lawlessness.
Ejiofor, in a press statement he released on Thursday, said the degrading treatment of Elohor is not only a personal tragedy, but also a direct affront to the sanctity of the national youth service scheme, a programme designed to foster unity, service, and nationhood.
He added that no conceivable offence could warrant the stripping naked of an unarmed young lady in her own Corpers’ Lodge – a sanctuary that ought to be a safe haven, not a theatre of humiliation.
He pointed out that no where in a decent society should such a barbarity ever be justified and it should not be swept under the carpet like other human rights abuses.
The statement read in part, “Some days ago, a deeply disturbing video clip surfaced online. In it, a young Nigerian, Miss Jennifer Elohor, a National Youth Service Corps member serving in Anambra State, was subjected to an act so vile and dehumanising that it shook the conscience of all who watched it.
“Here was a defenseless young woman, a daughter, a sister, a potential mother, stripped of her dignity and brutalised by those whose very mandate under Anambra State laws was supposed to guarantee her protection. Instead of being her shield, they became her tormentors.
“I forced myself to watch the deeply disturbing clip, and my heart ached, my spirit recoiled, and my eyes welled up with tears. For what crime, I ask, can such barbarity ever be justified? What conceivable offence could warrant the stripping naked of an unarmed young lady in her own Corpers’ Lodge; a sanctuary that ought to be a safe haven, not a theatre of humiliation?
“This, without a doubt, is not just an ‘incident’. It is a national shame. It is the very definition of excessive lawlessness.
“The degrading treatment of Miss Elohor is not only a personal tragedy, but also a direct affront to the sanctity of the national youth service scheme, a programme designed to foster unity, service, and nationhood. When those entrusted with local security turn into predators, we are not merely facing a lapse in judgment; we are staring at the collapse of order.
“I am not opposed to the establishment of local vigilante groups; I have always supported and sanctioned them. In fact, when properly structured, trained, and monitored, such outfits can be indispensable to community policing and security.
“However, I have consistently emphasised that recruitment must be thorough, profiling must be rigorous, and training must be both professional and humane. What we witnessed in that clip was not the conduct of disciplined security personnel; it was the raw brutality of criminal rogues hiding under the cloak of state authority.
“I read, though yet to be fully verified, that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has arrested and/or dismissed the culprits. If that is true, it is a welcome first step. But let it be known that dismissal is not justice. These individuals must be subjected to the full weight of the law. Anything short of this will embolden others.”
According to him, the state government bears both a moral and legal responsibility to support Elohor, adding that compensation alone is not enough; she must be given access to comprehensive post-trauma counseling, rehabilitation, and medical attention. No young lady should be left to carry such scars, visible or invisible- alone.
“Going forward, I strongly recommend that Governor Soludo institutes routine training and retraining programs for the Udo-ga-Achi security outfit, ensuring they are not politicised or turned into tools of oppression.
“In addition, there is an urgent need to form a consortium of independent advisers, men and women of integrity, proven credibility, and reputable backgrounds, who will periodically audit, review, and guide the operations of local security groups in the state.
“Security is not merely the absence of violence and crime; it is the presence of trust, dignity, and justice. When those tasked with protecting us become agents of humiliation, the very foundation of our society trembles. As a nation, we must rise and declare: Never again,” the statement added.
